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The sex was off-the-charts amazing. They got a bit deeper into the kink aspects of their relationship, both physically and emotionally, and their bond grew more each day.

They enjoyed simply being together so much, whether it was in bed, or going out to dinner, or walking on the beach.

They spent time at the De Young Museum, and discovered that the small collections at the Palace of the Legion of Honor were their favorite.

They went to the movies, and had a weekend away in Monterey planned so they could visit the aquarium there, and the fact that they’d planned something to do together another month down the road felt good.

It felt like they were on the same page about their future.

The past week Kenna had to fill in for another manager who was out sick, working twelve and fourteen hour days, so they’d only been able to talk on the phone and have quick video chats to say goodnight.

CJ understood the work responsibilities, but she didn’t have to like it, and she didn’t.

And for the first time, she understood that saying about absence making the heart grow fonder.

Although it wasn’t fondness. It was a deep yearning that burned like fire in her gut when she was trying to wind down for sleep at night without Kenna.

It was dreams of holding her little kitten in her arms. It was a rush of pure joy when she got hear her girl’s voice, or see her lovely face on Zoom.

Somehow it was already Friday, and she and her business partner and best friend, Glynn, had a lunch scheduled. They met at a small dim sum place by their office in Noe Valley, catching up on client details before the conversation got more personal.

“So, you’ve been missing in action lately,” Glynn commented with a grin, the piercings in her dimpled cheeks flashing and her blue eyes sparkling. “Spill the tea.”

CJ actually felt a blush heating her cheeks, which was something that never happened to her.

She tried to hide it by sipping her iced coffee, but no one could get anything past Glynn.

Her friend always loved knowing people’s secrets—although her budding relationship with Kenna wasn’t exactly a secret.

They just hadn’t had time to tell anyone about it

“Ohhh, you’ve got it bad. C’mon. Tell mama everything,” she demanded. “Who’s the girl? Do I know her?” Her friend leaned in closer and smoothed a hand over her short black hair, her tone low as she asked. “Have I dated her?”

CJ laughed. “No. At least, I don’t think so. She didn’t react when I mentioned your name, anyway.”

“Had to ask. The lesbian community in this town is incestuous as hell. Over in Oakland, too—half the San Francisco lesbians moved over there in the last decade, so it’s still all the same people.”

“Yeah, it is. But Kenna’s only lived here for two years, and it doesn’t sound like she’s been out on the town or dated much.”

“So, what makes you so special, then?” Glynn demanded in her usual good-natured, teasing way.

“We knew each other in college. She’s an old crush of mine.

She was a straight-girl crush—or, I thought she was straight, at least. And it was a bad one.

” CJ related the whole story to her, ending with, “This girl, though… she’s the one who got away.

And now she’s back, and she’s been out for years and is very firmly in her queerness, and I am not letting her go. ”

“Wow. Gotta say, CJ, this is the most lesbian I’ve ever heard you sound. Are we reserving a U-Haul yet?”

“What? No. No. We’ve only been together for a month—well, five weeks. I haven’t even seen her since Monday morning.”

“And you look like a kicked puppy about it.”

CJ sighed. “I know. But fuck, Glynn, if you only knew… She is seriously the sweetest human being ever born.”

“Well, you deserve it, my friend. It’s been a long time since you’ve even been in a relationship, and it’s a bummer that none of them ever panned out for you. Do you think—and I’m just tossing this out there—but do you think some part of you has been waiting for her?”

Was there some truth to that? It was something that kept coming up in her mind, but she’d pushed the idea away. It seemed a bit ridiculous, given how many years had gone by with them not even being in touch. But Glynn knew her like no one else, so maybe she was right. In fact, she knew she was.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess I have been waiting in some way, even though I haven’t been aware of it.

She’s always been in the back of my mind.

And I really haven’t meant to compare other people to her, and I know how unfair that is, but maybe…

maybe I have been doing that? I don’t know.

Maybe not comparing them to Kenna, but just the way she makes me feel.

The way she’s always made me feel. Is that… I don’t know. Fucked-up?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether or not she’s actually the one.

Because if she’s not, then yeah, it’s kind of fucked-up if you’ve been comparing everyone you’ve dated to some unrealistic image in your head that won’t ever amount to anything.

But if she’s the one? That’s different. Or, it could be.

And you know five weeks is like five years in lesbian time. Is she? Is she the one?”

CJ didn’t want to answer. She didn’t want to jinx anything by even thinking it. And they hadn’t even seen each other all week. What if something had changed?

It sure as hell hadn’t for her—she couldn’t wait to see Kenna after work tonight.

They’d planned to spend the entire weekend together, even though Kenna had to work an adoption event at the dog rescue.

CJ had offered to volunteer, and she was really looking forward to it.

It was good work, and she loved dogs. But mostly, she couldn’t wait to see her girl. Her kitten.

Mine .

Fuck, she hoped so. But only time would tell.

Kenna’s Lyft pulled up in front of CJ’s duplex on 7 th Avenue near Balboa. It was a dark-gray shingled structure with a graceful arch over the porch, white trim, and a pair of red doors, and Kenna could swear CJ’d had a leather jacket in those same colors back in college.

She walked up the front stairs with her heart beating wildly in her chest. Was it nerves? Excitement? Maybe a little of both.

She knocked on the door and a moment later it was opened by a tall woman with jet black hair shaved on the sides and striking blue eyes.

“Oh, um, hi. I’m looking for CJ,” Kenna said, wondering if she’d gotten the address wrong.

“Yep, she’s here,” the woman said, holding out a hand. “I’m Glynn.”

“Oh! I’m Kenna. And you must be her best friend.”

“That, I am—and her business partner. Come on in.”

Glynn stood aside to let Kenna enter and CJ came down the hall, a big smile on her face, and Kenna’s pulse thrummed with yearning.

“Sorry, Kenna. I see you’ve met my very intrusive bestie, who decided she just had to drop by when you were on your way over.”

Glynn grinned, seeming unperturbed by the backhanded introduction. “I was curious. I've been hearing about you for years,” she told Kenna with a wink.

“Okay, Glynn, it is definitely time for you to head out for your date,” CJ interrupted. “There’ll be plenty of time to interrogate me at the office on Monday.”

Glynn rubbed her hands together. “Can’t wait. Nice to meet you, Kenna.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” she answered with a smile.

Glynn clapped CJ on the shoulder. “You two have a great weekend.”

CJ rolled her eyes. “Go have your own great weekend and stay out of my business.”

“Can’t do it, won’t do it,” Glynn teased as she opened the front door, making Kenna laugh and CJ roll her eyes again. “Love ya!” she called over her shoulder as she headed down the stairs.

CJ closed the door and turned to Kenna. “Babygirl.”

There was such a glowing smile on her face as she opened her arms, Kenna dropped her overnight bag on the floor and sank into CJ’s embrace, breathing her in.

CJ kissed her hair, her cheek, then pulled back to kiss her lips.

Finally .

Kenna’s body went loose all over as CJ kissed her hard, then she went even looser as CJ gentled the kiss, the tenderness of it making Kenna’s heart beat faster, emotion surging through her.

CJ pulled away once more. “God, I’ve missed you, kitten. I’m so happy you’re here. And I’m sorry about Glynn.”

“No need to be. I liked her. She’s sort of like…a golden retriever.”

CJ chuckled. “Yeah, she is. Big and goofy and a little clumsy, but totally lovable. She’s been a really good friend to me.”

“I’m glad.”

“Come on in and let me show you around the place.”

Kenna bent to retrieve her bag, but CJ cocked an eyebrow at her. “Excuse me?” she demanded. “Were you about to carry your own bag, in my house?”

“Um… yes?”

“Wrong answer, Kenna girl, but we’ll deal with that infraction later.”

“Infraction?” she asked, although she wasn’t nearly as horrified as she’d tried to sound.

“Yep. Come with me.”

She waved Kenna into the front parlor, a good-sized room with vaulted ceilings and a bay window hung with velvet drapes in a deep green velvet. There was a Persian rug on the wood floor, a pair of Chesterfield sofas in brown leather, and some framed band prints on the walls.

“This place really looks like you,” Kenna told her. “I like it.

“Thanks. I rent out the unit next door, so it’s been a nice little investment property for me. And it’s cozy enough. Come see the rest of it. The new kitchen looks great.”

She followed her to the end of a long hall and into the kitchen, which was all dark green cabinets and gray slate counters, with another bay window overlooking the small back yard.

“Wow, this looks amazing. I love all the finishes you chose.”

“Thanks, baby. I painted the cabinets and walls myself and put in the tile backsplash, but I hired a crew to do the rest—and believe me, it was hard to give up that control, but work was too busy for me to take on a whole remodel myself right now. But I have something else to show you. Something just for you.”

CJ took her hand and led her back down the hallway, opening a door on the left.

Kenna pulled in a breath when she saw the room.

It was painted a dusty rose, with new white lace curtains on the tall windows.

There was a queen bed with a white duvet, and a velvet-covered bench at the foot of the bed.

A high dresser stood in one corner, and there was an enormous pile of pillows on the floor in another.

And on top of the dresser was a row of stuffed animals.

“Oh my gosh! Is this… are those… did you already have all those stuffies?” Kenna asked, a bit stunned.

“Nope. I got them for you. I redid this room for you. I wanted you to have your own space here when you visit.” CJ walked over to the dresser and picked up a white baby seal.

“This one is kinda my favorite, but I got you this little puppy, too, and these two teddy bears, and a stuffed gray mouse for my little kitten.”

CJ held the seal stuffie out and pushed it into Kenna’s arms.

“They’re so cute. And I can’t believe you did this for me. That anyone would do this for me. Thank you.”

Her heart was overflowing. Was this really her life now?

“I have something else for you. I have so much for you, Kenna. Do you want to see my bedroom now? You can bring the seal with you, if you want.”

“I’ll leave him here for now,” Kenna said, placing it carefully on the dresser, then joining CJ and slipping her hand into hers. “But… honestly, thank you doesn’t seem like enough. No one has ever done anything like this for me. No one has ever accepted me the way you do.”

CJ tucked a strand of Kenna’s hair behind her ear, gazing into her eyes. “I love doing things for you. I love this side of you, and especially that you’re willing to be so vulnerable with me.”

“That’s because you make me feel like I can be. I feel so safe with you that it’s almost scary sometimes. But the safe part feels so good, it chases the scary part away,” Kenna admitted, hoping it was okay to tell her what she was feeling.

“I take that very seriously, you know—trying to make you feel safe with me. The way you’ve opened up to me is a gift, Kenna. One I won’t take for granted. I understand this is a very deep and profound part of you. A somewhat fragile part. I promise to be careful with it.”

Kenna buried her face in CJ’s neck, tears stinging her eyes. No one had ever said such things to her before, and she was momentarily speechless.

CJ held onto her tight, and Kenna could feel the emotion flowing between them almost as if it was a tangible thing.

They stayed that way for a while, then CJ murmured, “Are you ready to go kitten for me, babygirl? Not that the gifts were meant to persuade you in that direction. You can always say you’re not ready, or you’ve changed your mind about it. You do understand that, right?”

“I do, and that’s part of what makes me feel so safe with you. And you’ve given me plenty of time to think it over, and I’ve thought about it a lot. So yes. I’m ready. More than ready.”

CJ smiled, that lovely smile that was so sweet and a little dangerous all at the same time. She lifted Kenna’s hand and brushed a kiss across the back of it, sending a delicious shiver through her.

“I was going to take you to my bed, but I think this may just be the perfect spot. I’m going to undress you now, sweet Kenna,” she told her.